Lantern holder



Junell 1960 A. E. scHuLTz ET AL 2,940,715

LANTERN HOLDER Filed Dec. 2, 1957 .B11-)Na nav Unicl States iI/lfffif LANTERN HOLDER Arthur E. Schultz, 1331 Royalwood Road, Broadview Heights, Ohio, and Arthur H. Schultz, 603 Woodmere Y Road, Berea, Ohio Filed Dec. 2, 1957, Ser. No. 700,119 3 Claims. (Cl. 248-226) ,.Ihis invention relates to a supporting device and more particularly to a lantern mounting bracket.

It is -an object of this invention to facilitate the positioning of a lantern with respect to a fixed supporting structure by bracket means, quickly and effectively attachable to. and detachable from the supporting structure -and adaptable for facile disposition of the.. lantern angularly with respect-to the supportingstructure or bracket.A

In' night fishing, it is expedient and customary to provide illumination above the surface of water and directed toward the water to attract fish to the area. Such illumination is most effectively provided with a lanafter being so secured. A quick attachment of the,

bracket is facilitated by a ratchet for allowing rapid closure of gripping portions over the greater portion of their extended length, after which a threaded attachf l ment is effective to close the gripping portions over the remaining proportion of their length of travel and a plate supporting'the lantern is quickly and accurately pivotal,-

to dispose the lantern at a desired angle relative to the bracket proper and to the water.

Although this invention is particularly well adapted as a fishing accessory in the manner herein described, it isv to be understood that the same is readily adaptable for attachment for a lantern to various Astructures other than a boat gunwale and for various other purposes. For simplicity, however, the same will be described with respect to its applicability as a lslning accessory.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a detailed description thereof considered with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates in perspective the complete flantern mounting bracket according to the invention,

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a swivel forming a part of the invention,

`Figure'S is a crossfsectional view of a ratchet assembly facilitating attachment of the bracket of this invention, and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a swivel coupling forming a part of the invention.

In the drawings, 10 represents generally the entire.

lantern bracket of this invention, and 12 represents the lantern which is angularly supported and retained by bracket 10 in the position in which the same is manually adjusted. BracketA 10 is applicable to a rigid structure such as a boat gunwale and the same is so plate 58 and a similar pin extendable through similar ,j 2,940,715 p Patented June 14, 1960v secured by the action of a pair of opposed clamping jaws 14 and 16 mounted for movement relative to each other and to a main body portion 18 of the bracket 10.- The jaws 14 and 16 are movable toward each other to abut a gunwale of sufcient size on respective sides thereof or, if necessary, a suitable block may be in serted between the gunwale and one jaw to enable clamping if the gunwaleis too narrow. g

`For more effective clamping, jaw 14 preferably in cludes a first planar portion 20 and a second planar portion 22 joining the iirst'planer portion at substantially a right angle and adaptable to extend beneath and grip an overhanging portion of the gunwale. Jaw 16 is preferably planar to conform to the outer portion of the gunwale and boat. Each of the jaws 14 and 16 is provided with a cushioning pad of soft material 24, such as felt, rubber or the like, to preventV scratching or marring of the parts engaged thereby.

To elect forcible clamping movement of jaw 14 toward body portion 18, portion 20 ofjaw 14 is provided with a slot through whichy a threaded boltY or stud 26 extends `from its attachment to body portion 18. A wing nut 28' threadedly engages bolt 26 and is adaptable to be manually turned to force jaw 14 toward body portion 18. t *Y Y For enabling movement of jaw llltowrard body portion 18, the jaw is rigidly secured to an end of a plate- 30 which is slidable along body portion 18 `in* opposed,

recessed guideways 32 and 34 Yhavingj respective overhangs 36 and 38. Additionally guiding the sliding movement of plate 30 are a pair of rails 40 and 42, en-

gageable along their lengths with the facing `edges oi` overhangs 36 and 38. Plate 30 is freelyslidable in-` wardly toward body portion '18' in the absenceof any resistance imposed on jaw 16, but a ratchet including a; plurality of serrations 44 shown most Aclearlyin Figure 3, forming a ratch along the upper and outer opposed edges of plate 30, and pawl 46 biased by a spring 48, prevents sliding movement of the plate in a reverse direction. The opposed pawls such as pawl 46 ,arey mounted in opposed studs 50 and 52', threaded in bores in overhangs 36 and 38, and have grooves 50' and 52' at their outer ends to enable turning by a screwdriver or other suitable tool. .For reverse sliding movement, studs 50 and 52 are sufficiently -withdrawn from4 their respective bores in overhands 36 Yand 38 to also Withdraw detent plungers such as 46, from engagement with the uppermost portions of the ratch` portion lof plate 30.

It is apparent that bracket 10 is vquicklyan'd easily applied to agunwale of a boat.v Assuming thatthe jaws 14and 16 are in theirA respective extended positions relative to body portion 18, the bracketis positioned with jaw 16 outside of the gun-Wale andv jaw 16 inside the gunwale. The studs 50 and 52 being fully inserted,i jaw 16 and body 18 are pushed inwardly or toward eachother until the -jaws 14 and 16 engage respective sides of the gunwale, and thereafter are pulled apart-to seat the vpawls in the bottoms of appropriateserrations 44.5 Thereafter, wing nut 28 is-turned to bringjaw 14: n

tightly into engagement with the innerV side of the gunwale and the reaction of thisaction brings ja'w 16,-;

tightly into engagement with the outer side of Ithe gun-- Wale.

For mounting lantern 12, a pair of generally'triangularmembers 54 and 56 are mounted along the'gtop of por v tions of rails 40 and 42, and preferably' overhangl jaw` 16 somewhat to enable greater 'angular movementqof lantern 12 as it is pivotal with a rocking plate 158which is pivotally mounted in membersy 54`and,l 56 as bya amm.

masseuse einer desiertas bracket. Lantern ii is directlyw supported by' la resilient springemember- 62 v extending around a reduced-4 portion of the lantern and having ends titting n suitable bores in the end of rockniaii'ne'r-v h'ei'feinfterf described; sprin'gmember 62V and lantern-lili are-also pivoted --relative torthe other parts of--th'e bracketi whereby lantern IZniay be angulariy disposed-- relative Yto other parts off thebracket andto water yin which aboat mayv be floating.

Foi-faoilitating accurate andV simple pivotal movement of the rocking plate 58"-aJ threadedscrew 64 bent toV provideah'andleis mounted ina pair of swivels' shown gene'rallylat-l 68E and 7 0': Swivell 68fincludes a swivel block 7Zlia=ving1a bore 713iL threadedlyY engaging screw- 64 and is mounted for-rotation ina-vertical plane bya pairof opposed axles74 and 76" shown more-'clearly iii-Figure 2,

threadedly# engaging-boresfsuch'asbore 7Sin-a pedestal'- 80lwhieh in' turni is iixedly` secured to plate v 30. Axles 7 4 and-76lvarereduced-attheirinner endsE as shown at 82 andl84l'to` belooselyfreceived -in a complementary bore in the side ofblock 72! andl each` axle is grooved at its outer-endl as -at 86l and; SS tobeengageable with a screw driver` orgother appropriate tool for inserting'or removingy tneaxlsifriomfthe pedestalA swivel?v 701 includes *la -swifvel-block-90having a bore92 forirceivin'ga -reducedl-endf portion ofscrew"64- and a' pair of opposed, recess bores 94 and 96 for receivingre'fV duced ends of? apair -of threaded Vaxles '98v andy 100 which, in-:ttirn-are in `threaded engagement with a pair'of spaced bloteltsltlzn and 1'04fsecured to rocking plate 5S and axles 98 and 100. Screw-'64 isrestrained against axial movement# relative to blockl 90 by a shoulderl'formed` atftheiredueedportion thereof; and; in-abutment withA one sid'e offth/-block and 'a snap-ring 108 tting in an annu lar: groovelimthe end of screw 64 and'in abutment with the oppositeside of the block from shoulder 106.

Axles 98and100 areprovided with respectiveend grooves 110'andf llz'to receivel the'Y end ot'l a screwdriver-brother appropriate toolfor thre'adin'g'the" axle along-its bore.' Rotation of handle '66 of screw 64^is eiectiveto pivot or rock plate 581about`pins-si1ch asn 60, since swivel blockv 72:.013 swivel 68 is "restrained from lateralv movement wl1"ereby`-reactionoflscrewy 64 againstj this yblock iseffec tivltimpart av'ct'nnpoundE movement includinga com ponentf of: linear A` movement to screw 64f Accordingly,v

plateYSS-'rocksiwhileblockf-90Yof swivel 70 pivots.

Itis apparent-thatfthe'lantern 12 isaccurately angular? ly/disposable byA they mere rotation of-'screw 64"by' handle 66-fatanypoint over a wide range of positions' and that such disposition is enabled by a simple rotation of theV handl'e1665f g Havingthus` described this invention in such v1full,`V clear,

cont-sise1;tand=l"ex`:it-'termsA asi Ato "enable any *person skilled, inthe art-towhichigit pertains to make-anduse the same, andi having setv -forth' thev best mode contemplatedv 'of carryin'gioutffthise invention;v wev state that the subject matter which# weV regard being 1 our invention is ypar` ticularly pointed out"ar'1d"distinctlyA claimed" in what is claimed,v Ait being understood that equivalents or modieationsfof, orsubstittions' for; parts of the, above. spe'- t cially'desc'ribed embodiment-ofthe invention 'may beA ing!movement'of*said-plate relatiye'to saidibody in one diectiong'afpair offjaws adjustablysecured-to'V said body ati opposite-=endsf`thereof-andfbeing movable relative to said body landlto `ieaeh othreforggripping arigidistructure lin'glportions" receivable in said ways for longitudinal' sliding movementlafsecond' plate 'pivotall'y mounted onVv therebetween, a pedestal and a pivotal member mounted at spacedpointsomsaid plate-member; a swivel secured' to said pedestal and to saida pivotal member and a screw threadedly engaging the swivel on said pedestal and being axially iixed relative to the swivel on said pivotal member whereby rotation of said screw is eective to pivot and adjust the angular position'jofssaid pivotal member and gripping means removably secured to said pivotal member. Y

f 2j.. AA lanternVv supporting-bracket:comprising; a; body having .a pair` of guidewaystherein, pair-:of V jaws adjustably secured to opposite ends of said bodyandl being movable relative, thereto andto each other, said jaws having cushionable' relatively soft' clamping faces for engagement with'kaxedtmemben; a; plater'member receivable in said guideways and movable longitudinally therealong, a pivotal member mounted on a transverse pivot on said plate member, means connectingpsaid plate memberandjjsai'd pivotall member for 'adjustably i angularly positioningsaidepivotal member" aboutits p iyo'tr and gripping` means removably/'secured to said' pivotal `inemb'e'rgfzorangularly psiti'oniga lantern relative to said" bbdyz Y sliding movement, a second plate pivotally'v mounted fon' said i'stfplate, object: supporting'Y meansjonjsadfsecond plate;A manually/ adjustable meansY interconnecting said rstwand-*second plates; fon sc introllir'ign the angle. ofgsa'id seeond-l p1"aterelza'tive` to tlefirstplate,"y jaw meansj'ai'xed to: saidbody;I yand;"secondjaw means affixed Ato said' ist platefor aflixing' said` bracket' to ,a rigidv structure.

4: Asupporting bracket compri-sing a body havingaj pair of longitudinal guideways therein, a rst plate having portions'v receivable n said," guidewaysi for longitudinal sliding movement; a second" plate Vpivotally mounted' on saidv i'st plate, said` second plate shifting about anl axis transversetol the'guid'eways on saidbody, objectsuppor-ting means onsaidsecondplate, manually' adjustable means interconnecting, said firstL and' second plates for controlling'theiangle ofsaid second' plate.v relative to the first-plate, andfjaw'"meansadjustablyearriedby said body` and tof-saldrstplate forjaiiixing said bracket'to a rigid structure.

5i A' supporting bracket? comprisingla body hzwringla` pair-t)ffwlorigitudihalr guideways therein, ,a "first plate havingjgx'irtions'l receivable" in said guideways `for longitudinal slding'movement, a second" plate pivotallyA mounted'on said ,rst plate, said second'pplat'eishifting yabout an axis transverse to;y they guideways' onfv saidv body`obje'ct sup-4 portingmeans. onsaid second plate, manually' adjustable meansinterconnecting*said i'st and second plates for controlling theangleof'fsaid second plate relative to the f iirSt'jPlate'QvjaWQmeanSj affixed to. said body; andsecondf transverseA to the'guideways onsaidbody, Obilfslipporting' means on said secondplat'e, manually adjustable means kintereotnnacting said' iist andrsecond platespfo'r controllingtthe; angle "of Ysaid secoridfplate relative to' the tirst'plate, jaw"means' 'aiiiedl toV said body, second jay( means affixed to saiditirstP plate for afiningvsaid bracket to arigid structurejfrandjeushion lmeans onlsaidrst and. second jaw means forlien'g'agementf' witliithe rigidl structure.' y y `y y v v 7;,A"supporting brackt comprising a body having a pairof'longitdinal' guide ways therein, a 'rjst plate hav'- said rst plate, object supporting means on said second plate, manually adjustable means interconnecting said irst and second plates for controlling the angle of said second plate relative to the rst plate, jaw means aixed to said body, and a jaw axed to said rst plate having a leg adapted for adjustment in a direction normal to said guide ways and a second leg normal to said first leg for engagement with and aixing said bracket to a rigid structure.

8. A supporting bracket comprising a body having a Y pair of longitudinal guide ways therein, a irst plate having portions receivable in said guide Ways for longitudinal sliding movement, a second plate pivotally mounted on said first plate, object supporting means on said second plate, manually adjustable means interconnecting said rst and second plates for controlling the angle of said second plate relative to the first plate, jaw means aixed to said body, and a jaw aixed to said rst plate having a leg adapted for adjustment in a direction normal to said guide ways Kand a second leg normal to References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 510,323 Brammer Dec. 5, 1893 1,192,001 Ryan July 25, 1916 1,550,252 Hein Aug. 18, 1925 2,158,005 Eisenman May 9, 1939 2,358,422 Springer Sept. 19,1944 2,498,287 McLellan Feb. 21, 1950 2,655,337 Diesfeld Ian. 13, 1953 2,862,435 Buchenberger Dec. 2, 1958 2,867,401 Sheehan Jan. 6, -9

FOREIGN PATENTS 10,844 Great Britain Aug. 8, 1887 12,356 Great Britain Jan. 6, 1910 

